Channel 12 Challenges Israeli Communications Law Over Press Freedom Concerns

Channel 12 filed a petition to Israel's Supreme Court on Thursday opposing the new Communications Law, arguing it severely undermines press freedom and contradicts democratic principles. The petition reveals a February 2023 meeting between Channel 12 News CEO Avi Weiss and Minister Shlomo Karhi, where Karhi expressed dissatisfaction with existing legal restrictions preventing Prime Minister Netanyahu from contacting license holders to influence news content. Karhi reportedly sought changes to compel license holders to accept the Prime Minister's requests and act accordingly.

The petition highlights that the law aims to dismantle or weaken the structural separation between news divisions and license holders, enabling political interference in television news broadcasts. Previously, news had to be broadcast through an independent news company structurally separated from the license holder. The new law permits a "news array" within the licensee corporation and mandates only to "strive to maintain separation," without specifying how to achieve it. Channel 12 argues this vague provision leaves news vulnerable to economic and political pressures, threatening editorial independence.

The petition was submitted by Channel 12's legal team, including Dr. Yisgav Nakdimon, Dikla Biran, Yarden Ivzen, and Danit Akiva. The Supreme Court has temporarily frozen parts of the law that were to take immediate effect, citing serious questions about the legislative process and some provisions. Justice Ofer Groskopf warned that once implemented, reversing the law's effects would be difficult. Minister Karhi dismissed the court's authority to freeze or annul laws and refused to participate in the judicial process.

This legal battle follows a series of petitions against the law shortly after its final Knesset approval. The case underscores ongoing tensions over media independence and political influence in Israel's broadcasting sector.